Ask A Scientist Astronomy Archive

name         Lynne
status       educator
grade        9-12
location     IL

Question -   In the Northern Hemisphere, the first
quarter of the moon appears with the lit side to the right of the observer.
How does this appear to an observer in the Southern Hemisphere on the same
night?  Also, are the poles, craters, and mare "flipped" top-bottom?
How would this appear to someone on the equator on the same night?
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In the Southern Hemisphere, the first-quarter Moon appears to lit from
the left. This is because a person "down under" is essentially
standing on his/her head relative to a person in the Northern
Hemisphere.

The Moon, its features, along with the entire Universe, appear
upside-down from the Southern Hemisphere. The further south, the more
upside-down it appears.

At the equator, the first-quarter Moon rises lit half first (as is
everywhere) but moves almost directly overhead 6 hours later, then
sets lit half first.

HOWARD BARNES,
Auckland,
New Zealand. (37 degrees South)
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